Soccer:Nicolas Anelka has admitted he is resigned to leaving Chelsea amid reports he will be allowed to leave the club in January. Former France striker Anelka's contract expires at the end of the season and he is free to sign a pre-contract with a rival team at the turn of the year.

Manager Andre Villas-Boas recently claimed Anelka had chosen not to extend his four-year stay at Stamford Bridge, although the player later insisted he had made no decision about his future.

But after it emerged Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua were prepared to offer a lucrative salary to lure him to the far east in January, Anelka has accepted his days at Chelsea are numbered.

“I love playing here,” Anelka said. “Chelsea has been the best part of my career and it’s been great playing and winning with terrific guys like Didier Drogba, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda.

“I was hoping to win another league title this season with Chelsea, but now, apparently, it is not to be.”

Anelka did not travel for Chelsea’s Champions League game at Bayer Leverkusen tonight despite being fully fit, an apparent sign he is not part of Villas-Boas’ long-term plans.

As well as the Shanghai Shenhua offer, Anelka has attracted interest from AC Milan and Anzhi Makhachkala, the Russian club who made Samuel Eto’o the highest paid player in the world in August.

A number of Major League Soccer clubs have also been linked with the forward, including New York Red Bulls, Los Angeles Galaxy, Philadelphia Union and Montreal Impact.

The former Arsenal, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City and Bolton star has started just three times in the Premier League this season, scoring once.